I loved writing this chapter. I really hope you enjoy it! Please let me know if you do.

Dedicated to my fabulous reviewers.

I own nothing. If I did the show would be more like this…

Serena walked out of the penthouse elevator to the increasingly familiar sight of Dan and Blair pouring over a shared computer screen, their heads close together.

They both looked up at the sound of her throat clearing. "Hey, I don't get it guys. You don't even go to the same college. How can you spend so much time studying?"

Blair raised her eyebrows. "There's just not enough academic rigour in Dan's coursework, he needs me to give it a boost." She nudged Dan with her elbow. "He also clearly needs my advice fixing up his crippled prose."

Serena looked at the ceiling and muttered. "Oh… I'm sure that's what it is." Neither of them heard her.

Dan tried to look hurt, but only managed amused. "Tell me how you really feel, Waldorf. I recall you saying my book was 'great'."

Blair giggled. "And you believed me? Humphrey, you are so gullible."

"Well, wait until you've read the reviews. You will find yourself alone in that opinion."

"You're setting up for a big fall one of these days. I think you should let me screen your reviews for you. I'll only let you read the ones I think are good for your ego."

Dan narrowed his eyes at her. "Good at deflating my ego you mean."

She replied innocently, opening her eyes wide. "Which ever."

"Butter wouldn't melt in your mouth, would it?"

"It wouldn't dare."

Serena's eyes revolved again. She shook her head at them and headed toward the stairs with a vague "goodnight."

Blair settled back on the sofa, taking up her book, while Dan plugged away at the laptop, trying to finish the referencing for his paper, letting out a groan every now and again.

Blair made an incensed sound. "Stop distracting me with those noises! I've read this last paragraph 3 times now."

"I can't find the reference I need."

"You spend more time chasing references than you do writing, Humphrey. You have no system."

"I know I know…Miss Methodical."

She blinked slowly at him. "I have to finish Vanity Fair by tomorrow for class. Shush."

"I can't believe you never read that before. Thackeray definitely had your measure when he wrote it."

"I am nothing like Becky Sharp. Take that back!"

"Alright, you're nothing like her… I don't know why I called you Sophie in my book. It should have been Becky…starts with a B…has the same number of letters..."

"Instead you called me after my almost mother in law."

"That was a bit of an oversight but I didn't get much of a chance to review it. I would have changed it to Beulah, had I the chance."

Blair gave him a mock glare and put her book face down. "You should go. I can't concentrate with your constant rambling."

"I'll be quiet, if you stop talking to me. I'm the one with the paper due." He turned back to the screen in front of him and sighed. "Actually, you're right. I should get home, it's late." He saved his document and closed the laptop. Blair stood and helped him gather his papers.

Dan stuffed his laptop in his bag and gave her half salute. "So, I guess I'll see you Sunday, for Port of Shadows?"

"Quai des brumes. I'll meet you there. Don't be late." She thrust a pile of class notes at his chest. "I've been waiting to see it. Bring tissues, you'll need them."

She walked over to the elevator doors. "Do you want the doorman to get you a cab? I can call down."

He smiled. "Concerned for my safety or trying to get rid of me? I can never tell." He raised his hand to touch her cheek, his eyes dark with affection. "My very own Becky Sharp."

Blair almost flinched at his touch. Dan felt her tense up and swiftly withdrew his fingers. His eyes dropped. "Uh…well…I'll see you."

Blair's eyes flickered everywhere but at him. "Ok…bye."

She stood and watched as the elevator light descended through the floors and then gathered up her book to read in bed. As she walked upstairs, she could still feel the pressure of Dan's fingertips on her cheek.

xoxoxoxoxox

It was strangely quiet when they left the cinema and found themselves standing on the street. Dan seemed pensive, his brow a little troubled. Blair resisted the impulse to stretch her hand out and smooth it with her fingers. They strolled down the sidewalk together, silently, unwilling or unable to discuss the heartbreaking story they had just watched.

Blair was the first to find words. "Well, that was everything I expected it to be, and a little more. Where are we going now?"

Dan answered distractedly. "Uh…I'm not sure. Do you want to get a coffee? It's still early and we could walk."

"We do that almost everyday, Humphrey. I'd like a drink. I don't have class tomorrow."

Dan looked unsure. "I don't know. That could be dangerous."

Blair flushed.

Dan cringed, his own face matching hers. "Uh! I mean…uh, only I have class tomorrow morning. I need to be sharp."

"You and the word sharp shouldn't be used in the same sentence, Humphrey." Blair's words came out harsher than she intended. She flushed further and picked up her pace.

He hurried after her. "Actually, Blair, a drink is probably exactly what I need right now. I just don't really have it in me to sit amongst hordes of people, trying to shout a conversation at you. But it's only 8 o'clock, we could find somewhere."

Blair turned to him. "Come back to mine. Serena's there, she said she was staying in. We can sit down and have a drink together. I've scarcely spoken to her all week."

"I could come for one drink, I guess. It would be nice to see Serena."

They ambled alongside the park until they reached her apartment building. The doorman eyeballed Dan as they went inside.

He whispered in her ear as the waited for the elevator. "Your doorman seriously doesn't like me."

Blair laughed. "He has the impression you are deranged. I'm in two minds whether to enlighten him."

'What? That I am or am not?"

She twinkled up at him. "Am, of course. But then he won't let you in and who's going to study with me then?"

They stood silently as the elevator ascended. Dan averted his eyes from her and tried not to think about the last time they'd had a drink together. Ignoring the way her yellow skirt was slightly see-through with the lighting in the elevator and he could see the clear line of her leg up to her…

The elevator doors opened and Blair's voice rang out through the penthouse. "Serena? Come and have a drink with us."

Silence echoed back at her.

"I'll check her room."

Blair walked up the stairs but returned moments later, alone. "She must have gone out. How unsurprising."

She looked at Dan with a little trepidation. "Well, don't just stand there. You know where the kitchen is. We need a drink."

"Blair, I can't even find tea in your kitchen."

"Follow me. I'll show you. So you'll know next time."

Dan trailed behind her to the kitchen and watched as she pulled glasses from a cupboard. "Red or white?"

"I don't care. You probably don't have any beer, I guess."

"Czech, Belgian or Polish? Cyrus drinks it and I get the last one for Dorota. "

"Czech. I wouldn't want to deprive Dorota"

She poured herself a glass of white wine and handed him a bottle, a glass and bottle opener.

He followed her through to the lounge and took a seat on the sofa. She sat next to him, kicking her shoes off. "Don't even think about putting that on the table without a coaster, Humphrey. That table…"

"…Is worth more than the entire contents of my apartment. I know, Blair."

He leaned back into the sofa, tilting his head and closing his eyes. Blair's eyes traced his profile and the stubble on his cheek. Her fingers itched once more to smooth the crease between his eyes.

She picked up her wine glass with both hands. "You're unusually quiet, Humphrey. What have I done to deserve such a pleasure?"

He opened his eyes and took a sip of his beer, ignoring her jibe. "I'm a little tired, I guess. That movie threw me somewhat. I'm feeling a bit off kilter…"

"I did see you giving those tissues a work out."

"That was you and you know it."

Blair sniffed and averted her head. Dan watched her, a wry smile on his lips.

She twirled her wineglass in her palm. "We could watch something else, if you have nothing to talk about. We'll have to turn it off when Serena get's home though, otherwise we'll drive her away."

Dan gave her half smile. "No, it's ok. It's nice just sitting here with you…it's just…" Dan stopped. "Never mind."

"Speak your mind, Humphrey."

"It's just… how do I say this?"

"Just say it, Humphrey, if you don't like the beer, try the Polish one, Dorota loves it."

"Blair, the beer is fine. Do you want to hear this or not?"

She nodded. Dan stared intently at her, his mouth moving slightly but staying mute.

"Humphrey, you have my full attention. Out with it"

He moved his hand unconsciously toward her. "Blair, I have to tell you, I'm struggling here… I can't pretend any longer that I don't feel the way I… I do towards you. And that you don't know it."

Blair felt her stomach go into freefall. "Dan, you were right. I think it was better when you were silent."

"Hear me out. You asked for it and now you're going to listen. I wanted to give you time, Blair. Give us time. I know what you put yourself through with Louis and Chuck and this is probably too soon. But it's hard for me, being around you all the time. It makes me want to be with you, entirely. I want everything from you. I don't think we should see each other so much. I know, I'm cutting my nose off to spite my face, but it's painful. And it's getting worse."

"I need you as my friend, Dan. Don't tell me you can't see me, because of a feeling. It doesn't make sense."

"I am your friend, Blair. But I can't go on without you knowing, understanding, that I feel more than that. You can do what you want with it."

"What am I meant to do with it?"

Dan leaned forward, placing his glass on the coaster. "I don't know. I know what I'd like you to do." He lowered his head further. "Do you think I'm made of wood, Blair? That I can just suppress what I feel for your sake. It's what I've been trying to do. But I'm done; I just can't hide it anymore. You've read the book. You have to understand how I feel about you?"

Blair put down her glass, sloshing the contents. "The only thing I understood from your book, Dan, was that you made my character marry someone else and you ended up alone. David didn't love Sophie enough to support her through the mess she had made of her life."

Dan turned to her, his brows creased further. "Are you for real?"

Blair returned his gaze, anger brewing in her eyes. "In the book, you rejected me! Sophie would have left Henri to be with David!"

"Blair, it was everything David wanted but it would have destroyed Sophie. A future queen running away to be with a poor writer? It would have ruined us…them…both."

"I don't believe you." Blair felt her eyes fill and blinked furiously to keep the tears back. "It's exactly what happened to me with Chuck. He didn't want me to leave Louis to be with him. And it was too hard for David to be with Sophie. You wrote it, Dan!"

Dan looked perplexed. "I don't understand, Blair.

"Dan! I didn't want Sophie leave David. It was most of why I was so angry with you. In fact, entirely why! That realisation was the one that made me mess up my entire life." She tears she had struggled to control started to run down her cheeks.

Dan captured her hands in his own. "Blair…you still don't get it. You are the girl who broke David's heart…my heart…even if it's only because I let you. And I'm going to let you keep breaking it, if I see you all the time, because I can't help myself. Don't you understand I wrote that because I feel so much for you? I said we were friends only because I wanted you in my life any way I can. But it's torturing me."

"I don't know what I feel for you, Dan, but don't leave me. Don't say you don't want to see me. I can't bear it. You're the only thing I have at the moment."

"I'm not going to leave you, Blair. I can't…I couldn't…"

They gazed at each other silently. Blair finally gave into her impulse and ran her fingertips over his brow, trying to smooth the lines. He closed her eyes at her touch.

She drew in deep breath, trying to release the pressure in her chest. "Maybe we should kiss again to see what we feel."

Dan's eyes snapped open, looking at her in disbelief. "I don't need another test kiss, Blair! I know how I feel about you. I want to kiss you for real. I feel like you're toying with me. I'm not a plaything."

Blair clenched her hands in his shirt, pulling him toward her. His lips met hers in a rush, mouth open. He kept his hands by his side, allowing her to control the kiss. She clutched his arms, pulling him closer.

He pulled away first and looked intently at her. "What do you feel now?"

She looked at him, speechless for a moment. "…I can't tell. We'd better…" She pulled him to her again.

This time he let his arms snake around her, one hand burying itself in her hair, the other wrapping tightly around her waist. Blair relaxed into his arms, deepening the kiss further.

He wrenched his mouth away again, keeping his arms around her. "Tell me what you feel, Blair."

She was breathless. "…I want you to keep kissing me."

He shifted his head back. "Talk to me, Blair."

She dropped her eyes. "I want Sophie to end up with David."

He lifted her chin with his fingers. "But what about Dan and Blair? Two words joined in sentence..."

She reached her arms around his neck. "Well, if I can't have it any other way, I guess, but I prefer Humphrey and Waldorf. I'll just have to put up with the kissing." She leaned forward and kissed him again, refuting her words.

He groaned into her mouth, letting himself go. His fingers entwined in her hair as she opened her mouth to his, his firm tongue delving into her mouth. Warmth moved through her body. She smiled into his lips and pulled away. "So this is what all those soulful looks were for. I just thought you were just hungry all the time."

He spread his fingers across her cheek. "Blair, you're not fucking with me are you? I need to know this is for real."

She rested her head on his shoulder, looking up at him with hooded eyes. "Dan, if I'm honest with myself, I think I've wanted this for some time. But I don't want to ruin what we have for the sake of a few kisses."

He leaned into her neck, punctuationg his words with kisses. "Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred, then another thousand, then a second hundred, then yet another thousand more, then another hundred."

"Oh…" Blair felt a shiver run down her spine and breathlessly turned her head to give him better access to her neck. "Those can't be Humphrey's words…"

"Catullus. Humphrey would be far more graphic."

Blair giggled and reluctantly moved away from him. Dan groaned and reached for her. "Where are you going?"

She stood up, taking both of his hands in hers. "Come with me to my room. I don't want Serena walking in on us."

Dan stood up. "Serena knows how I feel about you."

Blair's mouth dropped open. "Then…why didn't she tell me?"

"It's not really her place, Blair."

"I guess that would be pretty uncomfortable… and she was ok with it, Dan? It doesn't make sense?"

"I don't know, Blair, I'm not really thinking about Serena at the moment. She was ok with it. Just. I think. I don't really care."

"This isn't the moment I want to find out. Come with me." They walked up the stairs to her bedroom, Dan scarcely believing it was actually happening. She closed the door behind them and walked directly into his open arms, burying her face in his chest.

"I need to take this slow, Dan. After Louis…and Chuck…"

He tightened his arms around her. "Oh, we can do that. After all, we've only been on endless non-dates; slept together numerous times; had sex; you've pulled my hair; I wrote a novel about you. We can take it slow."

She released a watery giggle into his shirt. "I mean it, Dan. I need to learn how to like myself again."

He bent his lips to her hair. "I might be able help you with that. There are many things I like about you, there's bound to be some I can point out to you."

Blair pressed in closer to him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

His voice deepened. "For instance, I like the way you smell, and I like the way my chin just fits over the top of your head…like this…when you've got no shoes on. In fact, I really like the top of your head, although, regrettably, there's no headband there at the moment for me to admire." He pulled back, lifting her chin from his chest. "And I'd really like it if you would lift your head up so I could kiss you again…or are we taking it that slow?"

She obliged and raised her head, looking candidly up at him. He lifted his hand up to her cheek. "Blair, I more than like you. Will you give me a chance to show you?"

She nodded silently and he lowered his head to hers.